Headlight



E. H. BELDEN.

HEADLIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED AUGAG, 19:1.

1 5410,155. Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

31a/vanto@ [dwarf/X 9e/den SH01/mm3 UNITED STATESl PATENT orrlcl.

DWABD E. BELIJEN, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE. WILL'YS-OVERLAND COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO.

EEADLIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

Application mea Agust 1e, 1917. serial No. 186,502.

T o all whom t may cof/wem:

Be it known that I, EnwAnn'I-I. BELDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and Stateofx Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Headlights, of which declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description.

This invention relates to improvements in headlights, and more particularly to improvements in automobile/'headlights of the type which are provided with a tilting reflector which may be tilted within the headlight casing so as to throw the beam of light downwardly at such an angle to the axis of the casing as to prevent the glaring of the headlight.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an improved headlight construction having a tilting reflector in which the mechanism for tilting the reflector is so arranged that the reiector automatically will be positively thrown to the limit of its movement in either direction whenever the tilting mechanism is actuated.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved mounting` for a tilting reflector within the headlight casing such that rattling and objectionable noise due to the vibration to which the headlight is subjected will be eliminated.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved resilient mounting for a tilting reflector within the headlight of such a nat-ure that the reflector will be suspended within the casing in such a way as to prevent twisting or turning of the reflector around its axis within the casing.

Further objects, and objects relating to economies of manufacture and details of construction, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a, part of this specification, in which- Figure I is a vertical, sectional view through a headlight embodying my invention, the reflector being shown by dotted lines in the tilted position.

A Figure II is a fragmentary, sectional view corresponding to the lower part of Figure I.

Figure IV is a detail, sectional view, taken substantially on the line IV-IV of Fi ure I,

And Figure V is a View similar to igure IV but showing a modified construction.

In the drawing, similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional viewsl are taken looking in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Considering the numbered parts in the drawing, I have shown an automobile headlight embodying a casing 10 having a front lens 11 and a ring 12 which normally secures the lens 11 in position. The reflector 13 carries the light bulb 14 formingA the light source and the wires 16 connecting said bulb with the source of current enter the casing through the thimble- 15 and are connected to the socket of the light bulb in the usual for the upper edge of the reflector within the casmg.

The link 2O is pivotally connected at its lower end to an ear 21 secured "to the headrlight casing, and the upper end of said link is pivotally connected to ear 22 secured to the lower edge of the reflector diametrically opposite to the bowel spring 17. The wire 23 has its end bent laterally at Q5 and connected to the link 20 and said wire works in the sleeve QI carried by the casing 10. A spring 26 is connected at one end to the reflector at the point 28 near the ear 22 (see Figure III) and at the other end to the casing at 2T`near the ear 21. The points of connection of the spring'QG with the reflec- `tor and the casing respectively are different from the points of pivotal connection of the link 2O with the reflector and the casing, so that as the link ymoves from one position to the other, the line of the spring extends on opposite sides of the pivot connecting the link 2O to the casing 10. An adjustable stop screw 29 is carried by the casing and is adapted to be engaged by the link 20, said stop screw serving to limit the movement of the link in one direction while the movement of the link in the opposite direction is limited by the stop screw 80, which is also supported from the casing.

In Figure V I have shown a. slightly modified construction in which, instead of' the single, broad, laminated bowed spring 1T for connecting the upper edge of the reflector to the casing, there are provided two spaced laminated bowed springs 31 connected to the reflector at the points 32 and to the casing at points It will be seen that this spring suspension affords the same sort of a two-point suspension as the broad bowed spring 17 and the object of this is to prevent twisting or turning of' the reflector around its axis within the casing.

From the description of the parts `fiven above, the operation of this device should be very readily understood. The reflector is shown in its for 'ard position by full lines in Figure I and, in this position, the rays of light from the light source 111 are reflected and thrown forward in a substantially horizontal beam. In order to prevent the glaring of the headlight when driving in city streets or' when another automobile is approaching, the wire 23 is manipulated to throw link 20 rearwardly. As this link 2() is thrown rearwardlyT the spring 2G, which is connected at its ends to the reflector and the casing respectively, moves so that it lies on the opposite side of the pivot connecting the lower end of the link 20 with ear 21 from the position that it occupies normally, and when said spring passes such pivot point, its tension is exerted to complete the movement of the link 20 until the link rests against the stop screw 29 which limits the tilting movement of the reflector. ll'hen the re flector has thus been tilted to the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure I, its light is' directed downwardly at such an angle to the casing that it strikes the ground Y at a point such a distance in front of' the automobile that none of the light can be reflected into the eyes ofl an approaching driver and the glare of the Vheadlight is thus elimi nated. The point at which the glare is eliminated can be very accurately determined and it is essential that the tilting movement should be so nmch as to throw the beam of light at a suflicient angle downward so that the glare will be entirely eliminated while at the Sametime the beam of light is not inclined from the horizontal any more than is necessary. The spring 26 serves to throw the link 20 to its limit of' movement in either direction and the adjustable stop screws 29 and SOserve to limit such movement, and thus determine the position of the reflector.

By locating a single hinge for the pivoted reflector 13 at the top forward edge thereof, the headlight lendsI itself to production in large quantities and may be readily assem- `can be normally disposed closer bled since the position of' the hinge 1T need not be so accurately determined as would be the case if' two trunnions were used at the sides of' the reflector and moreover there would be only one hinge or pivotal point instead of' two. The provision of a hinge connecting the upper forward edge of the reflectorwith the upper forward edge of' the casingpis also desirable because the reflector to the lens, andv the total-depth of the casing `can be lessened, since the reflector swings from its upper edge, and, in swinging from its normal position to its tilted positioinswngs entirely away from the lens. Furthermore by locating the tilting operating means 23 at thepoint diametrically opposite the single hinge 17, the reflector is swung about a longer radius and hence the adjustment of' the same may be made and maintained to a nicer degree of accuracy than would be otherwise the case and, as the bulb 14 vis carried by the reflector, thesame is not moved out of focus when the reflector is tilted.

ly providing the bowedlaminated springl 17 suspending the reflector within the casing, I provide substantially a two-point suspension for the top edge of the reflector so that the reflector is prevented from twist ingl or turning around its axis within the casing. The same result is accomplished by the use of' two springs 3l such asl shown in Figure Y of the drawing. By using this bowed spring suspension, I also eliminate the raltliug which is incident to the vibration lo which a headlight is subjected and provide a' very simple and economical method ol' mounting the reflector within the casing.

.I am aware that the particular embodiment ol. my invention, which I have here shown and described, is susceptible of' considerable variations without departing from the spirit of my invention; I have found. however, that this particular embodimer ,is desirable-from many standpointse nd i herefore, I desire to claim the same'fspecVcallv as well as broadly, as indicated-by.the appended claims.. i

Having thus described mysinvention. what I claim as new and desire to secure bv Iletters .Patent is:

`1. A device ol the class described comprising t'he combination of' a casing; a reflector mounted to tilt therein; a link pivotally connected at one end to said casing and .at the other end to said reflector; a spring connected at one end to said easing and at the other end to said reflector; means for swinging said link; and an adjustable stop adapted to limit the movement of said link.

2. A device of the class described comprising the combination of a casing; a reflector therein; a bowed spring connecting the upper edge of said reflector to said casing to support said reflector therein; and means for tilting said reflector.

3. A device of the class described comprising the combination of a casing; a reflector; spring means forming a two-point suspeny sion for the upper edge of said reflector;

of said reflector in either direction,

and means fortilting said reflector.

4. A device of the class described comprising the combination of a casing; a reflector; a bowed spring connecting the upper edge of said-reflector to the casing to support said reflector therein; and means connecting the lower edge Yof said reflector and the casing and movable to tilt the same.

5. A device of the class described comprising the combination of a casing; a reflector; spring means forming a two-point suspension for-the upper edge of said reflector; and means connecting the lower edge of the reflector and the casing and movable to tilt the same.

6. A device of the class described compris- `ing the combination of a casing; a reflector mounted to tilt therein; a bowed spring connecting the upper edge of said reflector to the casing; a link pivotally connected at its ends to said casing and the lower edge of said reflector respectively; a spring con-I nected at its lends to said casing and s aid reflector; and means for swinging said link.

7. A device of the class described com-'- prising the combination of a casing; .a reflector mounted to tilt therein; spring means forming a two-point suspension for the upper edge of said reflector; a link pivotally connected at its ends to said casing andthe lower edge of said reflector respectively; a spring connected at its ends to said casing and said reflector; and means for swinging said link.

8. A device of the class described comprising: in combination, a tiltable light reflector, means for' movably carrying said reflector, a link pivotally connected at one end to said means and at the other end to. said reflector to cause said reflector to move in a definite path from it, means to limit the movemen an spring means interposed between said first mentioned means and the reflector to bring said reflector into contact with each movement limiting means.

9. In a dev-ice of the class described, the combination of a casing, a movable light reflector, aresilient pivotal support for pivoting said light reflector on said casing, and means for restricting the movement of the reflector upon the casing.

10. A device of the class described including a casing, a light reflector, vibration absorbing means forming a pivotal support for pivoting said reflector to said casing, and means for shifting the reflector upon its pivotal support between predetermined limits.

11. A device of the class described, comprising in combination a casing, a reflector, la resilient member forming means to pivot said reflector to said casing, .a link pivotally disposed between said casing and said reflector, means to limit the movement of said reflector in either direction, and a spring connectedto said casing and reflector adapted to bring said reflector to the limitof its movement in either direction las determined by said limiting means.

12. A device of the class described comprising'in combination a casing, a reflector, a resilient member forming means to pivot said reflector in said casing, means pivotally connecting said reflector and casing at the side opposite said resilient member, the latter serving to bring said reflector to its limits of movement in either direction when brought to a 'redetermined position'intermediate said limits, and means for moving said. reflector to said predetermined position.

EDWARD-H. 'BELDEN 

